Means for automatically actuating control devices



Oct. 14 1.924. 1,511,432

a. SKIDMORE. JR

MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATING CONTROL DEVICES Filed on. 26. 1922 l atented Got. 1 1, 1924.

BENJAMIN SKIDMORE, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATING CONTROL DEVICES.

Application filed October 26, 1922. Serial No. 596,965.

T 0 all IO/b01 72 it may concern.

Be it known that I, BEiTJAMIN Skrmroim, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Automatioally Actuating Control Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for automatically actuating a control device particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in its use, with steam heating systems, and in which systems there is employed a tank or receiver which communicates with the return pipe of the system, and is adapted to receive air and water of condensation, the liquid being removed from the tank or receiver by means of a suitable pumping apparatus, and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide improved means whereby the control device may itself be automatically controlled by the water line or pressure in the tank or receiver.

A further object is to provide improved means whereby the height of the liquid or the pressure necessary to actuate the control device may be varied at will.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts herein-after more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of a portion of a tank or receiver, having a. control device constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 3 is a view of still another form of the invention Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally a tank or receiver having an inlet 11, which is connected with the return line of a heating system whereby the water of condensation from the system will be delivered and allowed to accumulate in the tank or receiver. The numeral 12 designates a discharge outlet from the tank, which leads to a suitable pumping apparatus diagrammatically illustrated at figure 13. A suitable switch or control device 14: is provided for controlling the operation of the pumping apparatus 13, all of which may be of the ordinary and well known construction. The tank 10 is a closed tank and may be provided with an air vent 15.

The tank is provided with an outlet pipe 23, leading therefrom and having communication therewith at a point preferably adjacent the bottom of the tank. Connected with the pipe 23 is a bellows like element 17 which is adapted to be operated by pressure created in the tank and by the fluid. The pipe 23 is provided with a valve 24 therein opening in a direction toward the tank 10, and a. pipe 25 leads from a liquid outlet 26 located at the water level of the tank and constitutes a by-pass for the liquid and has communication with the pipe 23 on the side of the valve 24 opposite to the side which communicates with the tank 10. When the fluid, indicated as at 18, accumulates to a predetermined level some of the fluid from the tank will flow into the pipe connection 23 through the bypass 25 and will create a pressure in the bellows like element 17, to cause the latter to expand and in expanding, the switch or cut off device 141 will be operated through the medium of a connection 19 between a portion of the bellows like element 17 and the cut off device.

If desired a weight or element 20 may be provided which is connected with the element 19 and this element 20 is of a predetermined weight so as to cause a predetermined pressure to be created in theele'ment 17 before the latter will expand. The element 20 also serves as a means for assisting in returning the bellows like element 17 to its normal position after the pressure has been reduced.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 2, the control device 14 is located at a. point remote from the container or tank 10 and interposed between the element 17 and the pipe 23 is a pressure creating chamber 27, of any desired size and has communication with the element 17 through the medium of a pipe connection 28, of a suitable diameter, so that the pressure created in the chamber 27 will be manifested in the element 17, through the pipe conneotion 28.

It will be manifest from the forms of the invention thus far described that the Water of condensation'may be a lloived to accumulate in the tank and as it accumulates in the tank a portion of the fluid will flow into the pipe 23 and pressure creating chamber 21. When a predetermined pressure has been created in the chamber 21 in the form of the invention shown in Figure 2, and in the pipe connection 23 as shown in Figure 1, behind valve '24 such pressure Will be manifested in the element 17 to actuate the control device 14. When this pressure is relieved by the Withdra'ivaloffthe Wate'rof condensation from the tank '10 the Weighted element 20 will assist in returning theelement 17 to its normal position, and in so doing will actuate the control device in the opposite direction.

As the Water of condensation accumula'tes in the tank 10, the liquid will exert a pressure upon the "valve 24 through the out- 'let at' t'he bottom er the tank, to close the valve. The valve 24 will remain'closed and the Water of condensation 18 will accumulate in the tank until it reaches "the liquid -leve'l 26. The liquid in the tank 10 Willthe n overflow through the 'outlet 26 into the by pass 25 and into the pipe 28 on the other side of the valve 24. The pressure created by the'fl'u'id Will 'be manifested in the element 17 to operate the control device 14.

When a sufficient amount of Water has accumulated in the by pass 25 and pipe 23 on the side of the valve 24 opposite to the side which communicates With the tank 10, the valve 24 :Will "be counterbalanced and When the pressure of the fluid in=the by pass 25 and pipe 23 is greater than the pressure upon the valve on the tank side of the valve, the latter Will open and permit the Water of condensation, which has passed into the by pass and pipe -23 to flow back: into the tank *to be removed therefrom by the pumping apparatus, after Whicha further accumulation of the Water of -condensation in the tank 10 'Will operate to close the valve 24. When the pressure is relieved in 'theelement 17the'control device 14 will be operated in the opposite direction through the-assistance of the weighted element -20. I

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 2, the control device 14 is located atapoint remote from the-tank 10 and communicating with the pipe 23 is a pressure creating chamber 27, *and a pipe connection 28 leads from the'ch'am'ber 27 to the ele-- ment 17.

The operation of this 'form of the invention is similar to 'that'as described in connection With Figure -'1,With the exception that when the liquidfiows from the by pass 25 into the pipe 23 it Will create =a pressure in the chamber 27 and from the'cham- 5 her 27 theipressllreWill' beZmanifested in' the element 17 through the pipe-28. This press'u re'operates the flexible element '17 to move the control device 14 in one direction and When the pressure is relieved in the cham- 'ber'27, the element 17 Will operate in the opposite direction through the medium of the Weighted element 20 for moving the control device in the opposite direction.

Obviously when it is desired to vary the pressure at which the element 17 Will operate, the Weighted element 20 may be removed and another element of a different weight may be substituted there-fo'r or an additional weight may "be connected with the element '20.

In Figure 3 there is shown another means whereby the pressure necessary to operate "the' 'control device 14 may be varied and in this form of the invention there is shown a spring controlled 1 stop 29, which is arranged Within the path of 'movementin'one direc- *tion of the'control device 14. The stopi29 is arranged with respect to the "control device 14 so as: to 'permit the latter to mo ve'a short distance before its movement is a'r- *restedby the9stop29. Thisstop 29 'is yieldingly controlled by means of a spring 30 and the tension of the spring 30 may be varied 'by means of an adjustable device 3 1.

It will be manifest that with this form of the invention and in order to vary the pres sure at which the control device i'sr-to -be operated, all that is necessary is to adjust "the device 81 to increase or decrease the stress of the spring-30upolvthe stop 29.

dViththis improved construction it Willbe manifest that the device is Well adapted in connection "with return line systems and at predetermined periods and as the water-of condensation 'is delivered into the tank -it will be "removed therefrom byfltheipumping apparatus and at other intervals it is possible to .permit the "Water of condensatio'n to accumulate in the tank to a predetermined level before the pumping apparatus is *started in its operation so that there will bean intermittent control of the pumping "appara tus influenced by the accumulation 'of the water 'of condensation 'or the pressure created by such accumulation. I I

WVhile the preferred forms of the inventionhave been herein shovvn and described, it is to be understood that varionschanges may "be rnade in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the "several parts, Within the scope of the claims, Wit-hout-dep arting from "the spirit of 7 this invention.

What is claimed asqievv is 2-- l. In--combination a receiving tankhaving an 'in let, said-tank alsohaving an outlet for liquid, a contrl device -for controllin'g pumping -mechanism, means embodying fluid pressure actuated mechanism 'con trolled in its operation by *the liq'u-id level in the tank for controlling the said control device, a pipe connection between the said element and the tank, a fluid pressure chamber included in the said connection, a valve in said connection, and means for counterbalancing the valve.

2. In combination a receiving tank having an inlet adapted to be connected with the return line of a steam heating system, said tank also having an outlet for liquid, a control device for controlling pumping mechanism. means embodying fluid pressure actuated mechanism controlled in its operation by the liquid level in the tank for controlling the said control device, a pipe connection between the said element and the tank, a fluid pressure chamber included in the said connection, a valve in said connection, and means for automatically counter balancing the said valve.

3. In combination a receiving tank having an inlet adapted to be connected with the return line of a steam heating system, said tank also having an outlet for liquid, a control device for controlling pumping mechanism, means embodying a bellows like element controlled in its operation by the liquid level in the tank for controlling the said control device, a pipe connection between the said element and the tank, a fluid pressure chamber included in the said connection, a valve in said connection, and means whereby the fluid from the tank will automatically operate to counterbalance the said valve.

4. In combination a receiving tank having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a control device for controlling pumping mech anism, means embodying fluid pressure actuated mechanism controlled in its operation by the liquid level in the tank for controlling the said control device, a pipe connection between the said element and the tank, a fluid pressure chamber included in the said connection, a valve in said connection, and means whereby the fluid from the tank will automatically operate to counterbalance the said valve, the last recited means embodying a bypass leading from the tank adjacent the water level to the side of the valve opposite to the side which is connected with the tank.

5. In combination a receiving tank having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a control device for controlling pumping mechanism, means embodying a bellows like element controlled in its operation by the liquid level in the tank for controlling the said control device, a pipe connection between the said ele ment and the tank, a valve in said connection, and means for counterbalancing the said valve.

6. In combination a receiving tank having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a control device for controlling pumping mechanism,

device for controlling pumping mechanism,

means embodying a bellows like element controlled in its operation by the liquid level in the tank for controlling the said control device, a'pipe connection between the said element and the tank, a valve in said connection, and means whereby the fluid from the tank will automatically operate to open the said valve.

8. In combination a receiving tank having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a control device for controlling pumping mechanism, means embodying a bellows like element controlled in its operation by the liquid level in the tank for controlling the said control device, a pipe connection between the said element and the tank, a valve in said connection, and means whereby the fluid from the tank will automatically operate to counterbalance the said valve, the last recited means embodying a by pass leading from the tank adjacent the liquid level to the side of the valve opposite to the side which is connected with the tank.

9. In combination a receiving tank having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a control device for controlling pumping mechanism, means embodying a bellows like ele ment controlled in its operation by the liquid level in the tank for controlling the pumping mechanism, a pipe connection between the said element and the tank, a fluid pressure container in said connection, and a valve in said connection, said valve being maintained closed by the pressure of the liquid thereupon until the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level.

10. In combination a receiving tank having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a control device for controlling pumping mechanism, means embodying a bellows like element controlled in its operation by the liquid level in the tank for controlling the pumping mechanism, a pipe connection be tween the said element and the tank, a fluid pressure container in said connection, and a valve in said connection, said valve being maintained closed by the pressure of the liquid upon one side thereof until the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level,

the pressure upon the other side of the valve when the liquid in the tank recedes, operating to open the valve.

11. In combination a receiving tank having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a control device for controlling pumping mechanism, fluid pressure controlled means :for controlling the said control device, a pipe connection between the :said means and 'the tanlge valve in said connection, said valve being maintained closed by the operation of the liquid :on one side thereof and until the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level, and means "for conveying :liquid from the'tank atthe liquid level to the other side of the valve, the liquid on the said :other :side of the valve operating to open the valve "-Wl1611 the liquid in thetun'k -1'ecedes.

12. In combination, eircceiving'tankihaiving an inlet-and en-outlet for liquid, a c011- trol device for controlling pumping-mechm nism, fluid pressure means controlled in its operation by :the liquid level in the tank for controlling the pump controlling mechanisnne pipe connection between-the said tele- :nennese ment and the tank, a :fluid pressure containerin theseid connectiolnnnd' a valve in said connection, said valve :being nnaintained closed :by the pressure of :the liquid themupon until the :liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level.

:13. In combinatione receiv'ing :tank 112wiing an inlet and 1311 outlet for liquid, a, control device foncontrolling ypunlping mechanism, fluid pressure controlled :mechanism for controlling the :pump controlling mecha- :nism, e connection between the .seid fiuid pressure icontrolled smechanism and the tank, a valve in the said connection, and means for counterbalencing :the valve.

,%In testimony whereof I have signed smy lnanne :to this specification, on this llfith :dey ofQctoberyA. D. H922.

SKLDMQRE, JR. 

